Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 67 Famous in the Capital, the Crimson Pearl Fairy's First Bloom!
The capital city, the Rongguo Mansion, the backyard.

"Recently, the mansion has been bustling with guests."

"We had previously received visiting cards from the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion, the Liguo Duke's Mansion, and the Xiuguo Duke's Mansion, and the ladies and young women of the three dukes' mansions came to pay their respects."

"My grandmother was worried that one person couldn't handle it, so she specially asked me to invite Miss Lin and Fourth Miss to entertain them together."

Ping'er wore a bamboo-green satin round-necked, double-breasted long jacket with pine-flower pattern trim and gold flecks, over which she wore a white cross-collar jacket and a beige long skirt. Her hair was adorned with gold and jade ornaments, and she was both capable and dignified. She spoke in a gentle voice.

"I also need to go?"

Lin Daiyu was somewhat taken aback. She wasn't surprised that Xichun had gone to the front to greet the guests, because all these people coming and going were there for the prosperity of the Jia family. Behind all this was Jia Yan's outstanding military achievements. Just considering her status as Jia Yan's younger sister, who would dare to underestimate Xichun?

Wang Xifeng insisted on inviting her to go along, which inevitably raised suspicions, since she was also a guest of the Rongguo Mansion.

"Grandma said that the girl comes from the Lin family of Suzhou, a family with a long history of high-ranking officials and four generations of marquises. She is also the eldest daughter of Grandma, so she is one of our own."

"Furthermore, the young lady is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but she knows nothing about calligraphy. How could she possibly deal with those noble ladies and young misses?"

"No one in the household is more suitable than you, young lady. Please help her."

Ping'er's soft and gentle words elevated Lin Daiyu's status, giving Lin Daiyu ample face.

"I"

Lin Daiyu frowned, her eyes, which were both lively and melancholic, filled with hesitation.

"Sister Lin, let's go together."

Xiao Xichun stepped forward, grabbed her sleeve, and shook it a few times in a coquettish manner.

"it is good."

Seeing this, Lin Daiyu nodded slightly and agreed.

"Grandma has prepared some jewelry for the girl. Someone, bring it up."

Ping'er gently raised her jade-like hand, and the maids and servants waiting outside carried the red lacquered box into the courtyard and opened it.

Suddenly, a dazzling display of gold shone through the dazzling headdress, the shimmering earrings, the crystal-clear necklace, the elegant and exquisite wrist ornaments, and the unique and elegant rings. This set of headdress and jewelry consists of at least a hundred pieces, with diverse types, rich shapes, and exquisite craftsmanship. The exquisite gold designs are cleverly paired with jade and gemstone jewelry, complementing each other perfectly.

"Well!!!"

Lin Daiyu and Xiao Xichun were both somewhat surprised, as they had never seen such luxurious headwear before.

"Those duchesses and young ladies will arrive in a while. I'll have someone help the two young ladies with their grooming and dressing."

"Thank you for your trouble, Sister Ping'er."

Lin Daiyu snapped out of her reverie and thanked him gently. Little Xichun stared at the accessories with her bright, curious eyes.

"Girl, you're welcome."

Ping'er was amazed at how quickly Lin Daiyu had gotten used to these things. As expected of the eldest daughter of the Lin family, she was indeed different from ordinary people.

Immediately, a group of maids from Wang Xifeng's room began to help Lin Daiyu change into her finest attire. They carefully selected and used every piece of jewelry they could find. Xichun, being still young, only needed a simple makeover, which was sufficient.

With this makeover, Lin Daiyu's originally delicate, charming, intelligent, and affectionate fairy-like appearance gained a touch of elegance and nobility. When she was quiet, she was like a beautiful flower reflected in water, with a light and graceful figure, otherworldly and extraordinary, giving people a breathtaking beauty.

Standing still, she appeared radiant and dazzling, leaving all the maids of the Rongguo Mansion in awe.

At 4:45 AM, the sun reached Hengyang.

Inside Rongxi Hall, laughter and chatter filled the air as Wang Xifeng, along with Lin Daiyu and Xiao Xichun, entertained the visiting families of the three noble households.

"Mrs."

Zhou Rui's wife entered the small Buddhist hall and saw Madam Wang sitting cross-legged on a prayer cushion, upright with her eyes closed, her hands twirling prayer beads, and her lips chanting the Diamond Sutra. Not daring to disturb her, she stood quietly to the side, waiting. "Has it already begun?"

Madam Wang asked abruptly.

"Yes, ma'am."

Zhou Rui's wife said awkwardly, "Second Madam Lian, along with Miss Lin and Fourth Miss, are entertaining several ladies from the Duke's mansions."

'Whoosh!'

Madam Wang suddenly opened her tightly closed eyes, her gaze sharp and cold, and said, "You didn't tell Feng Ge'er what I said?"

"I told you."

Zhou Rui's wife trembled and hurriedly explained, "Second Madam Lian said that since Madam is devoted to Buddhism and has entrusted her with all the affairs of entertaining guests in the mansion, she will do her best to handle them and will never let the Jia family lose face."

"Feng Ge'er".

Madam Wang's eyes were filled with gloom, and the Buddhist prayer beads she was holding clattered to the ground.

Immediately, Zhou Rui's wife lowered her head, not daring to look at Madam Wang's expression. As Madam Wang's maid, she had handled all sorts of dirty deeds in the past, so she naturally knew that this seemingly bodhisattva-like person was actually heartless and ruthless.

"Go and tell her that there are other young ladies in the mansion, and that she should not show favoritism to one over the other."

With a slight twitch of her eyelids, Madam Wang uttered a sentence without making a sound.

"Is it the second or third young lady?"

Zhou Rui's wife wasn't sure, so she asked cautiously.

"Since the women are meeting, and Baoyu cannot go, it is perfectly acceptable to leave these matters to them."

"This is the Rongguo Mansion. How can it be proper for someone from the East Mansion or a woman from the maternal family to come forward and greet us!"

Madam Wang appeared righteous and indignant, showing no sign of malice or scheming.

In reality, she couldn't stand seeing Lin Daiyu and Xichun showing off outside, which is why she had to send Yingchun and Tanchun along. After all, her only daughter was currently in the Forbidden City; otherwise, she wouldn't have looked down on the illegitimate Yingchun and Tanchun.

Since all these illegitimate children are going to make way for Baoyu anyway, we might as well take this opportunity to push them forward. Perhaps they will catch the eye of some noble lady and become her daughter-in-law, which could bring some help to Baoyu in the future.

"Yes."

Zhou Rui's wife quickly left the Buddhist hall and relayed these words to Wang Xifeng.

“You’re right, madam. It was my fault.”

"Ping'er, go and invite Second Sister and Third Sister over as well."

Wang Xifeng gave the instructions with a smile.

"Yes, grandma."

Ping'er immediately agreed and brought Yingchun and Tanchun to Rongxi Hall to meet the guests.

Although Yingchun and Tanchun were both daughters of the Jia family, their status as illegitimate children and members of the Rongguo Mansion did not allow them to enjoy the same treatment as Xichun. The ladies of the several dukes' mansions were merely polite and lacked any real intimacy, not to mention the gifts they had carefully prepared for Xichun.

The only one who truly impressed everyone was Lin Daiyu. Coming from a scholarly family with four generations of marquises, her noble bearing was in no way inferior to the young ladies of the Duke's mansion present, adding a touch of elegance and grace. She spoke eloquently about the Book of Poetry, the Book of Documents, the Book of Rites, the Book of Changes, and the Spring and Autumn Annals, leaving everyone in awe.

From that day on, the reputation of the Lin family girl gradually spread throughout the capital, attracting more attention than the young and naive Xichun.

　The picture is of Ping'er.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)